From Man to Marine and Back Again

It doesn't take long for me to realize that my worst day at home is nothing compared to my best day here. I keep telling myself that I made a big mistake by joining the USMC, but it's too damn late! I'm here now, and so I'm just going to have to make the most of it. Richard Owen is a single father at the end of his rope. Financially strapped, stressed out, and emotionally broken, he seeks a way out of his situation. With few options available, he enlists in the Marines to give his son a better life, believing that he will never get the call for deployment. Then 9/11 happens. Suddenly, he finds himself heading for Marine training, leaving behind his family, friends, and all that he holds dear. After witnessing the atrocities of war firsthand, he returns home, eager to pick up where he left off. It is only then he realizes that recovering from what he experienced is only the beginning of the battle. This is a true account, in the words of the man who lived through it all. "[Mr. Owen] was wounded during a skirmish with insurgent forces. Not wanting to leave his comrades, [Mr. Owen] ignored his gunshot wound and refused medical attention in order to stay at the side of his fellow Marines. This could appear to the casual observer as reckless behavior, but quite the contrary is true. [He] is a man who does not give lip service to words such as devotion, duty, responsibility, and courage; he truly exudes these characteristics and traits. By his shear presence and demeanor, he gives strength to those who need it, as well as being a caring and compassionate human." - LtCol. Lawrence J. Catalano II USMC (Ret.)